Cutter chain



March 21, 1944. c, E. sToLrz CUTTER CHAIN Filed Nov. 27; 1942 @Hanny Patented Mar. 21, 1944 CUTTER CHAIN Charles E. Stoltz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 27, 1942, Serial No. 467,080

(Cl. 2GB-33) l Claims.

a machine such as is shown in a prior application Serial No. 400,051, filed by me on June 27, 1941.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a novel form of cutter chain oi a simplifled construction, for erlciently cutting thin kerfs and drilling round holes in a mine wall.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of cutter chain including an improved cutter Ibit which may .readily be carried by a standard form of roller chain and a novel form of clip for detachably clamping the cutter iblt to the chain.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cutter chain con- `wtructed in accordance with my invention, trained around a drive sprocket, with certain parts of the chain broken away and certain other parts in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view showing in detail the cutter bit used inthe cutter chain shown in Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged isometric view showing a detachable clip for clamping the cutter bit to the cutter chain; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged end view illustrating a method and apparatus for flexing the clip to clamp the cutter hit to the cutter chain.

In Figure 1 of the drawing the cutter chain is shown as consisting of an endless roller type of chain I0 trained around a drive sprocket Il, although it may be any other well known form of chain of a similar construction. Said drive sprocket is of a well known form and construction used to drive standard forms of drive chains, with alternate teeth cut away to accommodate alternate links of the chain', which carry cutter bits I2, I2.

The endless chain, as herein shown, includes a plurality of side straps I3, I3 connected together by sleeves I4, I4 having rollers I5, I5 thereon, and forming alternate links of the chain. The other links of the chain are formed by outer side straps I5, IS pivotally connected to said side straps by means of rivets I1, I1 which extend through said sleeves and project beyond the outer sides of said side straps I6, I6.

The cutter bits I2, I2 may be mounted in alternate links of the chain and are of such cross sectional area that they will fit between the inner side straps I3, I3 and the rollers I5, I5. Said. cutter bits each have a reduced outer end i5 formed to define a cutting point, and have a widened base having projecting ends I9, I9 extending forwardly and rearwardly from the forward and rear sides of the inner or bottom side of said bits. The inner sides of s aid projecting ends I9, I9 and the forward and rear faces of each bit are adapted to be held in engagement with the rollers I5, I5 and locked in position in the chain by means of a yieldable locking clip 20.

The locking clip 20, as shown in the drawing, is adapted to engage the bottom of the widened base of the bit I2 and to extend along the ends of the side straps I5, I6 and to have locking engagement with the projecting ends of the rivets il, Il. It should be noted, however, that where said bit is mounted in the links formed by the side straps I6, I6 said clip may extend along and engage said side straps and the projecting ends of the rivets Il, Il. Said locking clip may be made `from a yieldable material, such as spring steel, and, as herein shown, is provided with an open bottom which ts around a depending portion 2| of its associated` bit. Laterally extending side pieces or ears 23, 23 extend in opposite directions from the bottom of said locking clip, and integrally formedv parallel spaced side walls 24, 24 extend from said bottom of said clip and are adapted to extend `along and engage opposite side straps of the chain. Said ears 23, 23 are adapted to lbe engaged by a flexing tool 25, which is used to nex said clip so said side walls 24, 24 may be engaged with the side straps of the chain, Each side wall 24 is provided with a pair of oppositely facing recessed portions 26, 25, adapted to extend partially around the projecting parts of the rivets Il, il and have locking engagement therewith by reason of the resiliency of said clip, to hold said clip to the cutter chain. Retaining flanges 21, 2'I extend inwardly from said side walls, to aid in retaining said clip to the chain.

When it is desired to clamp the bit in the cutter chain, the bit is lrst `inserted.hetween the rollers I5, I5, and the ears 23, 23 of the clip 2i? are then engaged with inwardly extending prongs 30, 3l] of the exing tool 25,. An engaging end 3l of a plunger 32 `of said flexing tool is engaged with the underside of` the central portion of said clip, so that when pressure is exerted on said plunger by the hand, said clip will flex to the extent that it may fit over the link of the chain containing the cutter bit, and when the bit is inserted in the link formed by the side straps I3, I3, the side walls 24, 24 may engage the ends of the side straps I6, I6 of the next adjacent links of the chain and the recessed portions 26, 26 may clear the projecting ends of the rivets I'I, I'I and have locking engagement therewith, when said flexing tool is released. The bit is removed in a contrary manner, by flexing said clip with the flexing tool 25, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 4, until said clip may be removed from the chain by said ilexing member.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof andi-the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cutter chain, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, each of said links including a pair of spaced apart side straps, a plurality of cutter bits adapted to extend between the straps of alternate links, and means for detachably holding each of said cutter bits to its associated link including a yieldable clip adapted to engage the-bottom of each cutter bit and opposite side straps of said cutter chain.

2. In a cutter chain, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, each of said links including a pair of laterally spaced side straps, a plurality of cutter bits adapted to extend between the straps of certain links of said chain, and means for detachably holding said cutter 1bits to said links including a yieldable clip having a ybottom portion adapted to. engage the bottorn of a cutter bit and having side walls adapted to extend Aalong and engage opposite side straps of said cutter chain.

3. In a cutter chain, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, each of said links including a pair of vspaced apart side straps and rrivets connecting said side straps together and projecting beyond the sides thereof, a plurality of y cutter bits adapted to extend between and outwardly beyond the straps of certain links of said chain, and means for holding each cutter bit to its associated link including a clip adapted to engage the bottom of each cutter bit, and having portions extending along opposite side stra-ps of said chain and having locking engagement with the projecting ends of the rivets of said chain.

4. In a cutter chain, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, each of said links including a pair of spaced apart side straps and rivets connecting said ,side straps together and projecting beyond the sides thereof, a plurality of cutter bits adapted to extend between and outwardly beyond the straps of certain links of said chain, and means for holding each cutter bit to its associated link including a clip adapted to engage the bottom of each cutter bit, and-having portions extending along opposite side straps of said chain, each of said portions having opposite recessed portions adapted to have locking engagement with the rivets of said chain.

5. In an endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of spaced side straps, with rollers mounted at the points where said side straps are pivotally connected together, and cutter bits detachably mounted on the chain and extending through the chain from the inside thereof :between said side straps and rollers and having cutting points projecting beyond the links of said chain.

6. In an' endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of parallel spaced side straps, with rollers mounted at the points where said side straps are pivotally connected together, and cutter bits mounted between said side straps, said cutter bits each having a widened bottom portion the inner side of which has engagement with said rollers and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link of said chain.

7. In an endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of parallel spaced side straps, with rollers mounted at the points where said side straps are pivotally connected together, and cutter bits mounted between said side straps, said cutter bits each having a widened bottom portion the inner side of which has engagement with said rollers and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link of said chain, and a retaining clip having engagement with said widened bottom portion of said bit and opposite side straps of said chain, for holding each bit in cutting position in said chain.

8. In an endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of parallel spaced side straps, rivets for pivotally connecting said side straps together and projecting beyond the outer sides thereof, rollers mounted between said side straps coaxial with said rivets, cutter bits mounted between said side straps and having engagement with said rollers at their forward and rear ends, said cutter bits each having a widened bottom portion, the inner side of which has engagement with said rollers, and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link oi said chain, and means having detachable engagement with said chain links and the bottom portion of said bits in said chain and holding them in engagement with said rollers.

9. In an endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of parallel spaced side straps, rivets for pivotally connecting said side straps together and projecting beyond the outer sides thereof, rollers mounted between said side straps coaxial with said rivets, cutter bits mounted between said side straps and having engagement with said rollers at their forward and rear ends, said cutter` bits each having a widened bottom portion, the inner side of which has engagement with said rollers and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link of said. chain, and a yieldable clip having engagement with the bottom of said bit and having portions extending along the links of said chain and having detachable yieldable engagement therewith.

, 10. In an endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of parallel spaced side straps, rivets for pivotally connecting said side straps together and projecting beyond the outer sides thereof, rollers mounted between said side straps coaxial with said rivets, cutter bits mounted between said side straps and having engagement with said rollers at their forward and rear ends, said cutter bits each having a widened bottom portion, the inner side of which has engagement with said rollers and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link of said chain, and a yieldable clip having engagement with the bottom of said bit and having portions extending along the links of said chain and having detachable locking engagement with said rivets.

11. In an endless chain cutting device particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a roller chain including a plurality of parallel spaced side straps, rivets for pivotally connecting said side straps together and projecting beyond the outer sides thereof, rollers mounted between said side straps coaxial with said rivets, cutter bits mounted between said side straps and having engagement with said rollers at their forward and rear ends, said cutter bits each having a widened bottom portion, the inner side of which has engagement with said rollers and having a cutting point pro jecting beyond the associated link of said chain, and a yieldable clip having engagement with the bottom of said bit and having portions extending along and having yieldable engagement with the side straps of said chain, said portions having opposite recessed portions adapted to have locking engagement with the ends of said rivets.

12. In an endless chain particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, and a plurality of cutter bits detachably mounted in said chain, said cutter bits extending through said chain irom the inside thereof and having engagement therewith, to prevent their being thrown out of said chain during cutting, and having cutting points projecting beyond the links of said chain.

13. In an endless chain particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, and a plurality of cutter bits detachably mounted in said chain, said cutter bits extending through said chain from the inside thereof and having engagement therewith, to prevent their being thrown out of said chain during cutting, and having cutting points projecting beyond the links of said chain, and means having detachable engagement with said chain links and said cutter bits, for holding said bits in cutting position in said chain.

14. In an endless chain particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, and a plurality of cutter bits detachably mounted in said chain and extending through said chain from the inside thereof, said cutter bits each having an extended inner portion bearing against the inside of said chain, to prevent said bits from being thrown out of said chain by centrifugal force as said chain rounds its drive sprocket, and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link of said chain.

15. In an endless chain particularly adapted to cut coal in mines, a plurality of links pivotally connected together, and a plurality of cutter bits detachably mounted in said chain and extending through said chain from the inside thereof, said cutter bits each having an extended inner portion bearing against the inside of said chain, to prevent said bits fro-m being thrown out of said chain by centrifugal force as said chain rounds its drive sprocket, and having a cutting point projecting beyond the associated link of said chain, and means having detachable engagement with said chain links and the extended inner portion of said bits, for holding said bits in cutting position in said chain.

CHARLES E. STOLTZ.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No'. 2,5Mm5o. March 21, 19ML.

CHARLES E. STOLTZ It is hereby certified chat error appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 2, sec- Ond Column, line M9, Claim 8, after "bits" insert for clamping said bits; and that the said Let-ters Patent should be read with this correction therein, that the same may conform to the record Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day 0f May, A. D. 19h11..

of the case in the Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commieeioner of' Patents. 

